CN has launched a public awareness campaign to mark Rail Safety Week.
Happening through May 4, the railway will be out in full force all week conducting safety initiatives at commuter stations, CN intermodal terminals and railway crossings in Canada and the United States.
CN says the leading cause of rail-related fatalities in the country remains trespassing.
In 2013, there were 58 trespasser accidents that resulted in 44 fatalities and 10 serious injuries in Canada. The proportion of trespasser accidents that were fatal (76 percent) was up compared to the five-year average of 66 percent.
“We will not tolerate that individuals put their lives and those of others at risk,” said CN Police Chief Stephen Covey. “Too many people die from injuries sustained while trespassing on railway property in Canada and those fatalities are avoidable. The railway is not a safe place for children to play and it is not safe for adults to take short cuts across it. It is important to remember that when you see tracks, think trains.”
CN will also visit commuter stations to target a larger audience of rail users, particularly parents who will be urged to pass on safety information to their children.
